The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is deeply saddened to announce the passing on 13 December of Richard Budju, Associate Field Programme Officer assigned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) TFV Programme

Richard was a man of profound kindness, whose light shone brightly in everything he did.  He was particularly devoted to addressing the plight of children recruited or conscripted into militias. His work during his 14 years of service included the design, implementation, and oversight of reparations programmes for the Katanga and Lubanga cases, and between 2017 and 2020, he played a pivotal role in delivering reparations and educational support to Katanga case beneficiaries and their children in the DRC and Uganda. His wit, positivity, and strong ties to the Bogoro community were instrumental in advancing reparations and ensuring beneficiaries felt heard and acknowledged by the ICC. 

As an Iturian who had personally experienced the effects of conflict, he possessed a deep understanding of the hardships endured by survivors in the DRC. Richard’s extraordinary ability to connect with survivors, listen attentively, and amplify their voices with dignity and respect ensured the legitimacy of the ICC’s interventions in the DRC. His legacy will live on through the lives he helped rebuild and the invaluable knowledge he shared about the conflicts, people, and victims of Ituri.  
 
Richard’s radiant light will continue to shine in the lives he touched and in the work that we carry forward in his memory.